Business meeting workshop

In a working setting, to be able to speak in a second language, English in

particular, is a must. It allows to manage technical processes and opens up
new business opportunities. This is the reason why, this time, the training and
complementary material focuses on meetings; and it gives, not only some
important meeting expressions, but some meaningful tips on pronunciation.
Now, it's time for you to evidence your learning throughout this workshop.

1. Read the following verbs. Then, write its past form:

BEGIN BEGUN JOIN JOINING

CLOSE CLOSED MOVE MOVE
COMPLETE COMPLETED PRESENT DONE
COVER COVERED RECEIVE RECEIVE

DELIVER DELIVERED STATE STATE

DEVELOP DEVELOPED VALUE VALUE

DISCUSS DISCUSSED IS WAS

2. The following dialogue. Then, fill in the gaps using the verbs on the previous
activity.
BUSINESS MEETING DIALOGUE

Taken and adapted from: thoughtco.com

INTRODUCTIONS

Begin the meeting with introductions with special attention paid to

newcomers.

Meeting Chairman: If we are all here, let's get started. First of all, I'd like
you to please join me in welcoming Jack Peterson, our Southwest Area
Sales Vice President.

Jack Peterson: Thank you for having me, I'm looking forward to
today's meeting.

Meeting Chairman:I'd also like to introduce Margaret Simmons who recently was
join our team.
2.REVIEWING PAST BUSINESS

It's a good idea to review past business shortly before moving on to the main
topic of discussion.
Meeting Chairman: We're here today to discuss ways of improving sales in rural market
areas. First, let's go over the report from the last meeting which was delivered on June
24th. Right, Tom, over to you.

Alex Young: Thank you Mark. Let me just summarize the main points of the last meeting. We
closed

the meeting by approving the changes in our sales reporting system begun on May
30th. After briefly revising the changes that will take place, we closed to a
brainstorming session concerning after customer support improvements.

You'll find a copy of the main ideas valued and in developed these sessions in
the photocopies in front of you The meeting is declared complete at 11.30

3. BEGINNING THE MEETING

Make sure that everyone has an agenda of the meeting and stick to it. Refer
to the agenda from time to time during the meeting to keep the discussion
on track.

Meeting Chairman: Thank you Tom. So, if there is nothing else we need to discuss,
let's move on to today's agenda. Have you all completed a copy of today's agenda? If
you don't mind, I'd like to skip item 1 and move on to item 2: Sales improvement in
rural market areas. Jack has kindly agreed to give us a report on this matter. Jack?

4.DISCUSSING ITEMS
Discuss items on the agenda making sure to paraphrase and clarify as you
move through the meeting.

Chris Morgan: Before I begin the report, I'd like to get some ideas from you
all. How do you feel about rural sales in your sales districts? I suggest we go
round the table first to get all of your input.

Alex Young: In my opinion, we have been focusing too much on urban

customers and their needs. The way I see things, we need to return to our
rural base by developing an advertising campaign to focus on their particular
needs.

Anne Stevenson: I'm afraid I can't agree with you. I think rural customers
want to feel as important as our customers living in cities. I suggest we give
our rural sales teams more help with advanced customer information
reporting.

Alex Young: Excuse me, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat that, please?
Anne Stevenson: I just stated that we need to give our rural sales teams
better customer information reporting.

Chris Morgan: I don't quite follow you. What exactly do you mean?

Anne Stevenson: Well, we provide our city sales staff with database
information on all of our larger clients. We should be providing the same sort
of knowledge on our rural customers to our sales staff there.

Chris Morgan: Would you like to add anything, Tom?

Alex Young: I must admit I never thought about rural sales that way before.

Chris Morgan: Well, let me begin with this Power Point presentation
(Chrispresents his report). As you can see, we are developing new methods
to reach out to our rural customers.

Anne Stevenson: I suggest we break up into groups and discuss the ideas
we've seen discussed.

5.FINISHING THE MEETING

Close the meeting by summarizing what's been discussed and scheduling the next
meeting

Meeting Chairman: Unfortunately, we're running short of time. We'll have to

leave that to another time.

Jack Peterson: Before we close, let me just summarize the main points:

 Rural customers need special help to feel m done

 Our sales teams need more accurate information on our customers.
 A survey will b delivered to collect data on spending habits in these areas.
 The results of this survey will be covered to our sales teaMs.
Meeting Chairman: Thank you very much Jack. Right, it looks as
though we've the main items Is there any other business?

Alex Young: Can we fix the next meeting, please?

Meeting Chairman: Good idea Donald. How does Friday in two weeks
time sound to everyone? Let's meet at the same time, 9 o'clock. Is that OK
for everyone? Excellent. I'd like to thank Chris for coming to our meeting
today. The meeting is completed.

3. The previous dialogue doesn't include greetings at the beginning.

Read the dialogue againg and write the most appropriate greeting
to start the meeting.

Make sure that everyone has an agenda of the meeting and stick to it. Refer to
the agenda from time to time during the meeting to keep the discussion on
track.